Curatorial Practice
Florence
ENG
Master
Language
English
Start date
November 2026
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
1 Year
Course Coordination
Daria Filardo
Price
EU/EEA resident students: €20.300
Non‑EU/Non-EEA resident students: €22.300
Today, the curator is a producer of knowledge, able to interpret reality and create cultural narratives that engage diverse audiences. Florence, with its artistic heritage, historic museums, and international institutions, provides an ideal context to develop both theoretical and practical skills, and to work on real curatorial projects, thanks to collaborations with organizations such as Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Museo Sant’Orsola, and Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci.
The Master in Curatorial Practice prepares professionals capable of navigating the complexity of contemporary curating, where artistic languages and exhibition formats are constantly evolving. The program develops theoretical, managerial, and communication skills, with a strong focus on building professional networks and the ability to make curatorial projects tangible and transferable at an international level.
The Master combines theory and practice, covering contemporary art history, museology, exhibition history, and curatorial strategies, with a focus on exhibitions, public programs, publications, and educational projects. Students learn to create a curatorial identity, developing a critical, innovative, and interdisciplinary approach. The international Faculty includes curators and professionals from institutions such as Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Huis van het Boek, Fondazione In Between Art and Film, MAPS — Museum of Art in Public Spaces, Fondazione Bevilaqua La Masa, Recovery Plan, Biennale di Venezia, and Museo Reina Sofia, providing direct exposure to global best practices.
The Master is structured in three progressive phases, guiding students from theoretical study to professional practice. The entire curriculum offers an immersive experience, integrating lectures, practical workshops, meetings with curators and industry professionals, and hands-on curatorial projects.
In the first phase, students acquire the foundational theoretical knowledge necessary to understand the contemporary art system and curatorial practice. Topics include contemporary art history, museology, exhibition history, and exhibition management.
The second phase focuses on project development and practical application. Students work on real curatorial projects, experimenting with different methodological approaches and collaborating with renowned international curators. Core topics include curatorial writing, publishing, fundraising, cultural marketing, audience development, and an in-depth analysis of the contemporary art system.
Finally, students engage in the Final Project, developing an exhibition or public program curated in every phase.
Projects in collaboration with Palazzo Strozzi:
- 2021 – Alter Eva: an exhibition inspired by the work of six Italian women artists, exploring the female perspective and reflecting on a future based on new principles of natural and social coexistence.
- 2022 – Eco-Esistenze: a collective exhibition investigating the convergence between natural and artificial spaces and how communities perceive and experience them.
- 2023 – The Tilt of Time: an exhibition exploring the multifaceted nature of time through the work of various artists.
- 2024 – Teatro delle relazioni: a project exploring the concept of community as a space of belonging and as an artistic practice redefining models of production and sharing.
- 2026 – Bones of Tomorrow: the first institutional solo exhibition in Italy by Georgian artist Andro Eradze.
Upon completion of the Master, graduates are prepared to work in museums, galleries, fairs, and foundations, assuming roles as curators, project managers, and educators.
Information to decide
144 Scholarships available!
Join the new contest for Postgraduate courses starting in the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 academic years. Apply by 26 February.
Faculty
Course Coordinator
Daria Filardo
Art historian, Curator, Educator
Raimundas Malašauskas
Curator and Writer
Pietro Gaglianò
Curator
Yoeri Meessen
Director of National Museum Huis van het boek
Martino Margheri
Professor
Camilla Mozzato
Contemporary Art Curator & Editor
Irene Campolmi
Curator
Lorenzo Di Las Plassas
Journalist
Justin Randolph Thompson
New Media Artist
Projects
What people say
Voices from the Master
"You get to meet a lot of professionals in this field that have extensive background in what they study"
Alumnus
Voices from the Master
"This one year i realized that curation is no one size fits all, and i had the chance to discover different curatorial styles and interests."
Alumna
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News
Win a 50% Scholarship
There are 144 Scholarships available for Master of Arts and Master's Programs starting in the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 academic years.
Don't miss this opportunity: the contest ends on 26th February!